Is Darfur in North or South Sudan?

Darfur is in North Sudan (now simply Sudan).

Geographic Context

• Darfur is a region in western Sudan, bordering Chad, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
• The historical north-south divide (used before 2011) placed the border roughly along the 10°N parallel. Darfur lies entirely north of this line.
• Since South Sudan's 2011 independence, "North Sudan" is officially just Sudan. Darfur remains one of its five federal states (divided into five sub-states: North, South, West, Central, East Darfur).

Why the Distinction Matters

The Darfur conflict (2003–present) is distinct from the north-south civil wars. It involves Arab-dominated government forces and allied militias (Janjaweed/Rapid Support Forces) against non-Arab rebel groups, driven by land, ethnicity, and political marginalization—not the religious/cultural divide that defined the north-south split.